In this memorial they expressed a deep solicitude for the peace and quiet of the State, protested against the charge of hostility to the State government, or of a desire for its overthrow by revolutionary or lawless means, as well as against the charge that those who had been associated with them in the past days contemplated any such rashness or folly; nor did they believe that there was in Tennessee any organization, public or secret, which had such a purpose, and that, if there was, they had neither sympathy nor affiliation therewith. They further declared, that the peace of the State did not require a military organization; that such a measure might bring about and promote collisions rather than conserve the harmony and good order of society; and finally that they would pledge themselves to maintain the order and peace of the State with whatever influence they possessed, and would uphold and support the laws and aid the constituted authorities in their execution, trusting that a reciprocation of those sentiments would produce the enactment of such laws as would remove all causes disturbing society. “For,” they continued, “when it is remembered that the large mass of white men in Tennessee are denied the right to vote or to hold office, it is not wonderful or unnatural there should exist more or less dissatisfaction among them. And we beg leave respectfully to submit to your consideration that prompt and efficient action on the part of the proper authorities, for the removal of the political disabilities resting upon so many of our people, would heal all the wounds of our State, and make us once more a prosperous, contented, and united people.”[16] This memorial came too late to allay the excited minds of the Radicals. On the 10th of September, the Legislature passed a bill “to preserve the public peace.” This bill imposes “a fine of not less than five hundred dollars, and imprisonment in the penitentiary for not less than five years, and renders infamous any person who shall unite with, associate with, promote or encourage any organization of persons who shall prowl through the counties and towns of this State, by day or night, for the purpose of disturbing the peace or alarming the peaceful citizens of any part of the State. In order to secure the proper execution of this act, the same punishment is to be meted out to any person summoned as a witness, who shall fail or refuse to obey the summons, or who shall appear and refuse to testify; the same to any prosecuting attorney who shall be informed of the violation of the act, and fail or refuse to prosecute the person informed on; the same to any officer or other person who shall inform any other person that he was to be summoned as a witness, with the intent of defeating any of the provisions of the act; the same to any one who shall feed, lodge, or entertain or conceal in the woods, or elsewhere, any one known to such person to be charged with an offence under the act.”